Wake commissioner drops plan to resign

Raleigh, N.C. — One day after announcing she would resign from the Wake County Board of Commissioners, Jessica Holmes announced Wednesday that she had reconsidered and would remain on the board.

Holmes said in a statement that she had decided to pursue a job opportunity and felt the time was right to step aside after "breathing life" into the issue of affordable housing in Wake County through the creation of a county committee to address it.

"The overwhelming voice of my constituents has been for me to lead this work as chair of the affordable housing committee and continue pounding the pavement," she said to explain her decision to backtrack on her resignation. "Based on this calling, I am abandoning my original decision to resign and will stay to complete my term as a commissioner serving the community that I love."

Holmes, who was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2014, declined to elaborate on her statement.

Her Monday night announcement came at the end of the board's meeting, after a new chairman and vice chairman were named. Many people had lobbied for Holmes to be named vice chairwoman.

"Not all my goals have been met, but I feel I'm leaving the board in excellent hands, and therefore, I resign my position as Wake County commissioner," she said.

Other board members seemed stunned by the announcement, and they said Tuesday they were thrilled she had changed her mind, adding that they hope she continues to advocate for education and affordable housing.

"We are like family and love each other, and with every family, there's always issues," Board of Commissioners Chairman Sig Hutchinson said. "We can work through those issues. We have worked through those issues. We are collectively working to make that communication better and thrilled to all be working for the betterment of Wake County and our voters."